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Wooster EIF, Gaynor KM, Carthey AJR, Wallach AD, Stanton LA, Ramp D, Lundgren EJ. Animal cognition and culture mediate predator-prey interactions. Trends Ecol Evol 2024; 39:52-64. [PMID: 37839906 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Predator-prey ecology and the study of animal cognition and culture have emerged as independent disciplines. Research combining these disciplines suggests that both animal cognition and culture can shape the outcomes of predator-prey interactions and their influence on ecosystems. We review the growing body of work that weaves animal cognition or culture into predator-prey ecology, and argue that both cognition and culture are significant but poorly understood mechanisms mediating how predators structure ecosystems. We present a framework exploring how previous experiences with the predation process creates feedback loops that alter the predation sequence. Cognitive and cultural predator-prey ecology offers ecologists new lenses through which to understand species interactions, their ecological consequences, and novel methods to conserve wildlife in a changing world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eamonn I F Wooster
- Gulbali Institute, School of Agricultural, Environmental, and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW, Australia.
| | - Kaitlyn M Gaynor
- Departments of Zoology and Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Alexandra J R Carthey
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW 2113, Australia
| | - Arian D Wallach
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Lauren A Stanton
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-3114, USA
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, TD School, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Erick J Lundgren
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
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2
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Wisenden BD, Anderson CM, Hanson KA, Johnson MIM, Stockwell CA. Acquired predator recognition via epidermal alarm cues but not dietary alarm cues by isolated pupfish. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:230444. [PMID: 37711143 PMCID: PMC10498034 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
We tested whether Shoshone pupfish Cyprinodon nevadensis shoshone and Amargosa River pupfish C. n. amargosae respond behaviourally to conspecific chemical alarm cues released when epidermal tissue is damaged by a predator. We found that both subspecies reduced activity and vertical position in the water column in response to alarm cues. We then tested if pupfish can use alarm cue to acquire recognition of a novel predator. We trained pupfish with (1) water + odour of largemouth bass fed a diet of earthworms, (2) alarm cues from skin extract (epidermal alarm cues) + odour of bass fed a diet of earthworms, or (3) water + odour of bass fed a diet of pupfish (dietary alarm cues). Pupfish responded to epidermal alarm cues but not to dietary alarm cues. Pupfish were retested with the odour of bass that were fed an earthworm diet. Pupfish that had previously received epidermal alarm cues reduced vertical position and activity relative to the other two treatments. This is the first demonstration of acquired recognition of a novel predator by a pupfish, the first report of partial predator naiveté, and opens the possibility of predator-recognition training as a tool for management and conservation of endangered desert fishes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian D. Wisenden
- Biosciences Department, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Moorhead, MN 56563, USA
| | - Cody M. Anderson
- Environmental & Conservation Sciences Graduate Program, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, USA
| | - Kathryn A. Hanson
- Biosciences Department, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Moorhead, MN 56563, USA
| | - Molly I. M. Johnson
- Biosciences Department, Minnesota State University Moorhead, Moorhead, MN 56563, USA
- Environmental & Conservation Sciences Graduate Program, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, USA
| | - Craig A. Stockwell
- Biological Sciences Department, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, USA
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3
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Collins SM, Hendrix JG, Webber QMR, Boyle SP, Kingdon KA, Blackmore RJ, d'Entremont KJN, Hogg J, Ibáñez JP, Kennah JL, Lamarre J, Mejías M, Newediuk L, Richards C, Schwedak K, Wijekulathilake C, Turner JW. Bibliometric investigation of the integration of animal personality in conservation contexts. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2023; 37:e14021. [PMID: 36285603 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Consistent individual differences in behavior, commonly termed animal personality, are a widespread phenomenon across taxa that have important consequences for fitness, natural selection, and trophic interactions. Animal personality research may prove useful in several conservation contexts, but which contexts remains to be determined. We conducted a structured literature review of 654 studies identified by combining search terms for animal personality and various conservation subfields. We scored the relevance of personality and conservation issues for each study to identify which studies meaningfully integrated the 2 fields as opposed to surface-level connections or vague allusions. We found a taxonomic bias toward mammals (29% of all studies). Very few amphibian or reptile studies applied personality research to conservation issues (6% each). Climate change (21%), invasive species (15%), and captive breeding and reintroduction (13%) were the most abundant conservation subfields that occurred in our search, though a substantial proportion of these papers weakly integrated conservation and animal personality (climate change 54%, invasive species 51%, captive breeding and reintroduction 40%). Based on our results, we recommend that researchers strive for consistent and broadly applicable terminology when describing consistent behavioral differences to minimize confusion and improve the searchability of research. We identify several gaps in the literature that appear to be promising and fruitful avenues for future research, such as disease transmission as a function of sociability or exploration as a driver of space use in protected areas. Practitioners can begin informing future conservation efforts with knowledge gained from animal personality research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney M Collins
- Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Program, Departments of Biology and Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Jack G Hendrix
- Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Program, Departments of Biology and Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Quinn M R Webber
- Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Program, Departments of Biology and Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Sean P Boyle
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Katrien A Kingdon
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Robert J Blackmore
- Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Program, Departments of Biology and Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Kyle J N d'Entremont
- Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Program, Departments of Biology and Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Jennifer Hogg
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Juan P Ibáñez
- Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Program, Departments of Biology and Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Joanie L Kennah
- Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Program, Departments of Biology and Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Jessika Lamarre
- Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Program, Departments of Biology and Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Miguel Mejías
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Levi Newediuk
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Cerren Richards
- Department of Ocean Sciences, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Katrina Schwedak
- Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Program, Departments of Biology and Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Chirathi Wijekulathilake
- Cognitive and Behavioural Ecology Program, Departments of Biology and Psychology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
| | - Julie W Turner
- Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
- Wildlife Division, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
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Wallach AD, Ramp D, Benítez-López A, Wooster EIF, Carroll S, Carthey AJR, Rogers EIE, Middleton O, Zawada KJA, Svenning JC, Avidor E, Lundgren E. Savviness of prey to introduced predators. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2023; 37:e14012. [PMID: 36178043 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The prey naivety hypothesis posits that prey are vulnerable to introduced predators because many generations in slow gradual coevolution are needed for appropriate avoidance responses to develop. It predicts that prey will be more responsive to native than introduced predators and less responsive to introduced predators that differ substantially from native predators and from those newly established. To test these predictions, we conducted a global meta-analysis of studies that measured the wariness responses of small mammals to the scent of sympatric mammalian mesopredators. We identified 26 studies that met our selection criteria. These studies comprised 134 experiments reporting on the responses of 36 small mammal species to the scent of six introduced mesopredators and 12 native mesopredators. For each introduced mesopredator, we measured their phylogenetic and functional distance to local native mesopredators and the number of years sympatric with their prey. We used predator and prey body mass as a measure of predation risk. Globally, small mammals were similarly wary of the scent of native and introduced mesopredators; phylogenetic and functional distance between introduced mesopredators and closest native mesopredators had no effect on wariness; and wariness was unrelated to the number of prey generations, or years, since first contact with introduced mesopredators. Small mammal wariness was associated with predator-prey body mass ratio, regardless of the nativity. The one thing animals do not seem to recognize is whether their predators are native.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arian D Wallach
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Daniel Ramp
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, TD School, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Ana Benítez-López
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Eamonn I F Wooster
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, TD School, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Scott Carroll
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California Davis, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Alexandra J R Carthey
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Erin I E Rogers
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Owen Middleton
- School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
| | - Kyle J A Zawada
- Centre for Compassionate Conservation, TD School, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jens-Christian Svenning
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Ella Avidor
- School of Biology and Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Erick Lundgren
- Center for Biodiversity Dynamics in a Changing World (BIOCHANGE), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Moseby K, Van der Weyde L, Letnic M, Blumstein DT, West R, Bannister H. Addressing prey naivety in native mammals by accelerating selection for antipredator traits. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2023; 33:e2780. [PMID: 36394506 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Harnessing natural selection to improve conservation outcomes is a recent concept in ecology and evolutionary biology and a potentially powerful tool in species conservation. One possible application is the use of natural selection to improve antipredator responses of mammal species that are threatened by predation from novel predators. We investigated whether long-term exposure of an evolutionary naïve prey species to a novel predator would lead to phenotypic changes in a suite of physical and behavioral traits. We exposed a founder population of 353 burrowing bettongs (Bettongia lesueur) to feral cats (Felis catus) over 5 years and compared the physical and behavioral traits of this population (including offspring) to a control (non-predator exposed) population. We used selection analysis to investigate whether changes in the traits of bettongs were likely due to phenotypic plasticity or natural selection. We also quantified selection in both populations before and during major population crashes caused by drought (control) and high predation pressure (predator-exposed). Results showed that predator-exposed bettongs had longer flight initiation distances, larger hind feet, and larger heads than control bettongs. Trait divergence began soon after exposure and continued to intensify over time for flight initiation distance and hind foot length relative to control bettongs. Selection analysis found indicators of selection for larger hind feet and longer head length in predator-exposed populations. Results of a common garden experiment showed that the progeny of predator-exposed bettongs had larger feet than control bettongs. Results suggest that long-term, low-level exposure of naïve prey to novel predators can drive phenotypic changes that may assist with future conservation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Moseby
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Arid Recovery, Roxby Downs, South Australia, Australia
| | - Leanne Van der Weyde
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Mike Letnic
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Daniel T Blumstein
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Rebecca West
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Hannah Bannister
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Fardell LL, Pavey CR, Dickman CR. Influences of roaming domestic cats on wildlife activity in patchy urban environments. Front Ecol Evol 2023. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2023.1123355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Roaming domestic cats (Felis catus) are recognised as a threat to wildlife globally. Yet management of pet cats in urbanised areas is not regularly mandated, and management of feral cats in urbanised areas is rarely implemented. Mounting evidence emphasises the value of urban environments as hot spots of wildlife activity, which as the human population continues to grow may become the best or only habitats available to some wildlife species. Wildlife in urban environments must navigate introduced stressors that can compound with natural stressors. Additional, often novel, predators such as free-roaming pet and feral cats that are prevalent in urban environments could have high nonconsumptive fear/stress impacts on urban wildlife that influence their activity and adversely affect their health and reproduction capabilities, possibly more so than direct predation effects do. Cat roaming activity, particularly that of pet cats, could be managed with the support of the community, though motivation needs to be ensured. Understanding if roaming cat activity influences urban wildlife activity via perceived fear/stress impacts will help to build community motivation for the need for domestic cat management in urbanised areas. Using infrared motion sensor cameras positioned in both yards and green space edge habitats, we observed whether the presence and times active of native and introduced small mammals, and native birds, were impacted by domestic cat activity within a 24-h period and by their activity in the prior-24-h period. We found evidence of cat roaming activity during the hours of most wildlife activity, and show that wildlife navigated “landscapes of fear” relative to cat activity, as wildlife observed across a 24-h period increased their activity in the absence of cats in the same 24-h period and in the previous 24-h period. We also tested if cat activity was relative to previous cat activity, or disturbances, and found that cats reduced activity in response to each, but were still consistently present. Our results provide justification for the need to increase management of domestic cats in urbanised areas and offer fear/stress impacts as a novel approach to engender community support of such management.
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7
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Tay NE, Warburton NM, Moseby KE, Fleming PA. Predator escape behaviour in threatened marsupials. Anim Conserv 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- N. E. Tay
- Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University Murdoch WA Australia
| | - N. M. Warburton
- Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University Murdoch WA Australia
| | - K. E. Moseby
- Centre for Ecosystem Science School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales Sydney Australia
- Arid Recovery Ltd. P.O. Box 147 Roxby Downs 5725 Australia
| | - P. A. Fleming
- Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University Murdoch WA Australia
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8
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Blum CR, Fitch WT, Bugnyar T. Social dynamics impact scolding behaviour in captive groups of common ravens (Corvus corax). Front Zool 2022; 19:32. [PMID: 36503565 PMCID: PMC9743665 DOI: 10.1186/s12983-022-00477-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Predator avoidance can have immense impacts on fitness, yet individual variation in the expression of anti-predator behaviour remains largely unexplained. Existing research investigating learning of novel predators has focused either on individuals or groups, but not both. Testing in individual settings allows evaluations of learning or personality differences, while testing in group settings makes it impossible to distinguish any such individual differences from social dynamics. In this study, we investigate the effect of social dynamics on individual anti-predator behaviour. We trained 15 captive ravens to recognize and respond to a novel experimental predator and then exposed them to this predator in both group and isolation settings across 1.5 years to tease apart individual differences from social effects and evaluate two hypotheses: (1) weaker anti-predator responses of some individuals in the group occurred, because they failed to recognize the experimental predator as a threat, leading to weak responses when separated, or (2) some individuals had learned the new threat, but their scolding intensity was repressed in the group trials due to social dynamics (such as dominance rank), leading to increased scolding intensity when alone. RESULTS We found that dominance significantly influences scolding behaviour in the group trials; top-ranked individuals scold more and earlier than lower ranking ones. However, in the separation trials scolding duration is no longer affected by rank. CONCLUSIONS We speculate that, while top-ranked individuals use their anti-predator responses to signal status in the group, lower-ranking ravens may be suppressed from, or are less capable of, performing intense anti-predator behaviour while in the group. This suggests that, in addition to its recruitment or predator-deterrent effects, alarm calling may serve as a marker of individual quality to conspecifics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian R Blum
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
- Haidlhof Research Station, University of Vienna and University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
| | - W Tecumseh Fitch
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Vienna CogSciHub, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Bugnyar
- Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
- Haidlhof Research Station, University of Vienna and University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
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Badenes‐Pérez FR. The impacts of free‐roaming cats cannot be generalized and their role in rodent management should not be overlooked. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
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10
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Van der Weyde LK, Blumstein DT, Letnic M, Tuft K, Ryan-Schofield N, Moseby KE. Can native predators be used as a stepping stone to reduce prey naivety to novel predators? Behav Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arac097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Predator naivety negatively affects reintroduction success, and this threat is exacerbated when prey encounters predators with which they have had no evolutionary experience. While methods have been developed to inculcate fear into such predator-naïve individuals, none have been uniformly successful. Exposing ontogenetically- and evolutionary-naïve individuals first to native predators may be an effective stepping stone to improved responses to evolutionarily novel predators. We focused on greater bilbies (Macrotis lagotis) and capitalized on a multi-year mammalian recovery experiment whereby western quolls (Dasyurus geoffroii) were reintroduced into parts of a large fenced reserve that contained a population of naïve bilbies. We quantified a suite of anti-predator behaviors and measures of general wariness across quoll-exposed and quoll-naive bilby populations. We then translocated both quoll-exposed and quoll-naïve individuals into a large enclosure that contained feral cats (Felis catus) and monitored several behaviors. We found that bilbies can respond appropriately to quolls but found only limited support that experience with quolls better-prepared bilbies to respond to cats. Both populations of bilbies rapidly modified their behavior in a similar manner after their reintroduction to a novel environment. These results may have emerged due to insufficient prior exposure to quolls, inappropriate behavioral tests, or insufficient predation risk during cat exposure. Alternatively, quolls and cats are only distantly related and may not share sufficient similarities in their predatory cues or behavior to support such a learning transfer. Testing this stepping stone hypothesis with more closely related predator species and under higher predation risk would be informative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leanne K Van der Weyde
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales , Sydney, NSW 2052 , Australia
| | - Daniel T Blumstein
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of California , 621 Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1606 , USA
| | - Mike Letnic
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales , Sydney, NSW 2052 , Australia
| | - Katherine Tuft
- Arid Recovery , P.O. Box 147 Roxby Downs, SA 5725 , Australia
| | - Ned Ryan-Schofield
- Arid Recovery , P.O. Box 147 Roxby Downs, SA 5725 , Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide , Adelaide, SA 5005 , Australia
| | - Katherine E Moseby
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales , Sydney, NSW 2052 , Australia
- Arid Recovery , P.O. Box 147 Roxby Downs, SA 5725 , Australia
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Evans MJ, Weeks AR, Scheele BC, Gordon IJ, Neaves LE, Andrewartha TA, Brockett B, Rapley S, Smith KJ, Wilson BA, Manning AD. Coexistence conservation: Reconciling threatened species and invasive predators through adaptive ecological and evolutionary approaches. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Maldwyn J. Evans
- Fenner School of Environment and Society The Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
- Department of Ecosystem Studies, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences The University of Tokyo Tokyo Japan
| | - Andrew R. Weeks
- School of BioSciences The University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria Australia
| | - Ben C. Scheele
- Fenner School of Environment and Society The Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
| | - Iain J. Gordon
- Fenner School of Environment and Society The Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
- The James Hutton Institute Dundee UK
- Central Queensland University Townsville Queensland Australia
- Land & water, CSIRO Townsville Queensland Australia
- Lead, Protected Places Mission, National Environmental Science Program Reef and Rainforest Research Centre Cairns Queensland Australia
| | - Linda E. Neaves
- Fenner School of Environment and Society The Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
| | - Tim A. Andrewartha
- Fenner School of Environment and Society The Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
| | - Brittany Brockett
- Fenner School of Environment and Society The Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
| | - Shoshana Rapley
- Fenner School of Environment and Society The Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
| | - Kiarrah J. Smith
- Fenner School of Environment and Society The Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
| | - Belinda A. Wilson
- Fenner School of Environment and Society The Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
| | - Adrian D. Manning
- Fenner School of Environment and Society The Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
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12
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Zhu J, Gosnell JS, Akallal L, Goltsman M. Fear changes traits and increases survival: a meta‐analysis evaluating the efficacy of antipredator training in captive‐rearing programs. Restor Ecol 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.13674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Zhu
- PhD Program in Biology, The Graduate Center City University of New York 365 5th Ave New York New York 10016 United States
- Department of Natural Sciences, Baruch College City University of New York 17 Lexington Ave New York New York 10010 United States
| | - J. Stephen Gosnell
- PhD Program in Biology, The Graduate Center City University of New York 365 5th Ave New York New York 10016 United States
- Department of Natural Sciences, Baruch College City University of New York 17 Lexington Ave New York New York 10010 United States
| | - Laila Akallal
- Department of Natural Sciences, Baruch College City University of New York 17 Lexington Ave New York New York 10010 United States
| | - Micah Goltsman
- Department of Natural Sciences, Baruch College City University of New York 17 Lexington Ave New York New York 10010 United States
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13
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Rayner JG, Sturiale SL, Bailey NW. The persistence and evolutionary consequences of vestigial behaviours. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2022; 97:1389-1407. [PMID: 35218283 PMCID: PMC9540461 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Behavioural traits are often noted to persist after relaxation or removal of associated selection pressure, whereas it has been observed that morphological traits under similar conditions appear to decay more rapidly. Despite this, persistent non‐adaptive, ‘vestigial’ behavioural variation has received little research scrutiny. Here we review published examples of vestigial behavioural traits, highlighting their surprising prevalence, and argue that their further study can reveal insights about the widely debated role of behaviour in evolution. Some vestigial behaviours incur fitness costs, so may act as a drag on adaptive evolution when that adaptation occurs via trait loss or reversal. In other cases, vestigial behaviours can contribute to future evolutionary trajectories, for example by preserving genetic and phenotypic variation which is later co‐opted by selection during adaptive evolution or diversification, or through re‐emergence after ancestral selection pressures are restored. We explore why vestigial behaviours appear prone to persistence. Behavioural lag may be a general phenomenon arising from relatively high levels of non‐genetic variation in behavioural expression, and pleiotropic constraint. Long‐term persistence of non‐adaptive behavioural traits could also result when their expression is associated with morphological features which might be more rapidly lost or reduced. We propose that vestigial behaviours could provide a substrate for co‐option by novel selective forces, and advocate further study of the fate of behavioural traits following relaxed and reversed selection. Vestigial behaviours have been relatively well studied in the context of antipredator behaviours, but they are far from restricted to this ecological context, and so deserve broader consideration. They also have practical importance, with mixed evidence, for example, as to whether predator/parasite‐avoidance behaviours are rapidly lost in wildlife refuges and captivity. We identify important areas for future research to help determine whether vestigial behaviours essentially represent a form of evolutionary lag, or whether they have more meaningful evolutionary consequences distinct from those of other vestigial and behavioural traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack G Rayner
- Centre for Biological Diversity, Harold Mitchell Building, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 9TH, U.K
| | - Samantha L Sturiale
- Centre for Biological Diversity, Harold Mitchell Building, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 9TH, U.K
| | - Nathan W Bailey
- Centre for Biological Diversity, Harold Mitchell Building, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 9TH, U.K
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14
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Cliff HB, Jones ME, Johnson CN, Pech RP, Biemans BT, Barmuta LA, Norbury GL. Rapid gain and loss of predator recognition by an evolutionarily naïve lizard. AUSTRAL ECOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.13148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hannah B. Cliff
- School of Natural Sciences University of Tasmania Hobart Tasmania Australia
- Indigenous Desert Alliance 587 Newcastle St West Perth Western Australia 6005 Australia
| | - Menna E. Jones
- School of Natural Sciences University of Tasmania Hobart Tasmania Australia
| | - Chris N. Johnson
- School of Natural Sciences University of Tasmania Hobart Tasmania Australia
| | - Roger P. Pech
- Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research PO Box 69040 Lincoln 7640 New Zealand
| | - Bart T. Biemans
- Wageningen University and Research Wageningen The Netherlands
- Arcadis Nederland B.V. 5223 LL s‐Hertogenbosch The Netherlands
| | - Leon A. Barmuta
- School of Natural Sciences University of Tasmania Hobart Tasmania Australia
| | - Grant L. Norbury
- Manaaki Whenua – Landcare Research PO Box 176 Alexandra 9340 New Zealand
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15
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Rendall AR, Sutherland DR, Cooke R, White JG. Does the foraging ecology of feral cats change after the eradication of foxes? Biol Invasions 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-021-02718-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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16
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Taylor R, Coetsee AL, Doyle RE, Sutherland DR, Parrott ML. Sniffing out danger: rapid antipredator training of an endangered marsupial. AUSTRALIAN MAMMALOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1071/am20048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Globally, predator aversion training has assisted naive prey species to learn to evade introduced predators, improving translocation success. Eastern barred bandicoots (Perameles gunnii; hereafter ‘bandicoot’) are extinct on mainland Australia due to habitat loss and introduced predators, and are the focus of a long-term captive breeding and reintroduction program. Our trials showed that captive bandicoots failed to recognise cat (Felis catus) scents as belonging to a predator, suggesting prey naivety towards cats. We trialled five stimuli to elicit short-term fear behaviour in bandicoots. An automatic compressed air spray and automatic bin lid were most effective. We coupled these stimuli with cat urine during predator aversion training and presented them to bandicoots on three occasions. Bandicoots learnt to avoid the area containing cat urine, suggesting bandicoots are capable of learning new behaviours rapidly. Six trained and five untrained captive bandicoots where released onto Summerland Peninsular, Phillip Island (with cat densities at 1.1 cats/km2). Both had high survival and recapture rates 7 months after release. Training endangered species to avoid introduced predators could assist with long-term species recovery.
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17
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McGregor H, Moseby K, Johnson CN, Legge S. Effectiveness of thermal cameras compared to spotlights for counts of arid zone mammals across a range of ambient temperatures. AUSTRALIAN MAMMALOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1071/am20040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Effective monitoring of mammal species is critical to their management. Thermal cameras may enable more accurate detection of nocturnal mammals than visual observation with the aid of spotlights. We aimed to measure improvements in detection provided by thermal cameras, and to determine how these improvements depended on ambient temperatures and mammal species. We monitored small to medium sized mammals in central Australia, including small rodents, bettongs, bilbies, European rabbits, and feral cats. We conducted 20 vehicle-based camera transects using both a spotlight and thermal camera under ambient temperatures ranging from 10°C to 35°C. Thermal cameras resulted in more detections of small rodents and medium sized mammals. There was no increased benefit for feral cats, likely due to their prominent eyeshine. We found a strong relationship between increased detections using thermal cameras and environmental temperature: thermal cameras detected 30% more animals than conventional spotlighting at approximately 15°C, but produced few additional detections above 30°C. Spotlighting may be more versatile as it can be used in a greater range of ambient temperatures, but thermal cameras are more accurate than visual surveys at low temperatures, and can be used to benchmark spotlight surveys.
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18
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Enhancing the ecological realism of evolutionary mismatch theory. Trends Ecol Evol 2021; 37:233-245. [PMID: 34802715 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Following rapid environmental change, why do some animals thrive, while others struggle? We present an expanded, cue-response framework for predicting variation in behavioral responses to novel situations. We show how signal detection theory can be used when individuals have three behavioral options (approach, avoid, or ignore). Based on this theory, we outline predictions about which animals are more likely to make mistakes around novel conditions (i.e., fall for a trap or fail to use an undervalued resource) and the intensity of that mismatch (i.e., severe versus moderate). Explicitly considering three options provides a more holistic perspective and allows us to distinguish between severe and moderate traps, which could guide management strategies in a changing world.
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Allan ATL, Bailey AL, Hill RA. Consistency in the flight and visual orientation distances of habituated chacma baboons after an observed leopard predation. Do flight initiation distance methods always measure perceived predation risk? Ecol Evol 2021; 11:15404-15416. [PMID: 34765186 PMCID: PMC8571578 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Flight initiation distance (FID) procedures are used to assess the risk perception animals have for threats (e.g., natural predators, hunters), but it is unclear whether these assessments remain meaningful if animals have habituated to certain human stimuli (e.g., researchers, tourists). Our previous work showed that habituated baboons displayed individually distinct and consistent responses to human approaches, a tolerance trait, but it is unknown if the trait is resilient to life-threatening scenarios. If it were consistent, it would imply FIDs might measure specific human threat perception only and not generalize to other threats such as predators when animals have experienced habituation processes. We used FID procedures to compare baseline responses to the visual orientation distance, FID, and individual tolerance estimates assessed after a leopard predation on an adult male baboon (group member). All variables were consistent despite the predation event, suggesting tolerance to observers was largely unaffected by the predation and FID procedures are unlikely to be generalizable to other threats when habituation has occurred. FID approaches could be an important tool for assessing how humans influence animal behavior across a range of contexts, but careful planning is required to understand the type of stimuli presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew T. L. Allan
- Department of AnthropologyDurham UniversityDurhamUK
- Primate and Predator ProjectLajuma Research CentreLouis TrichardtSouth Africa
| | - Annie L. Bailey
- Primate and Predator ProjectLajuma Research CentreLouis TrichardtSouth Africa
| | - Russell A. Hill
- Department of AnthropologyDurham UniversityDurhamUK
- Primate and Predator ProjectLajuma Research CentreLouis TrichardtSouth Africa
- Department of ZoologyUniversity of VendaThohoyandouSouth Africa
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20
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Ross AK, Lawes JC, Letnic M. The impact of headstarting on the survival and naiveté of an endangered terrestrial mammal after return to the wild. Anim Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. K. Ross
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences University of New South Wales Kensington NSW Australia
- Centre for Ecosystem Science School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences University of New South Wales Kensington NSW Australia
| | - J. C. Lawes
- Centre for Ecosystem Science School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences University of New South Wales Kensington NSW Australia
| | - M. Letnic
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences University of New South Wales Kensington NSW Australia
- Centre for Ecosystem Science School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences University of New South Wales Kensington NSW Australia
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21
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McElderry RM, Paxton EH, Nguyen AV, Siers SR. Distilling Professional Opinion to Gauge Vulnerability of Guam Avifauna to Brown Treesnake Predation. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2021.683964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The avifauna of Guam was devastated by the introduction of the Brown Treesnake, and the restoration of native birds would need to address the problem with eradication or suppression of BTS. With eradication of the snake unlikely in the near term, and suppression capabilities limited to specific finite areas, key information for reintroductions is how low BTS abundance will likely need to be for each bird species to be re-established based on their vulnerability to BTS predation. Here, we estimate vulnerability, which can no longer be measured directly, so biologists who are familiar with one or more of seven Guam birds were surveyed to obtain their knowledge and produce quantitative vulnerability estimates. As is typical of birds adapted to islands devoid of predators, respondents judged that our focal species exhibit few predator avoidance and tolerance traits, leaving body size as the prime determinant of vulnerability. Respondent opinion also holds that any behavior that reduces the likelihood of an encounter by BTS, e.g., roosting/nesting in palm crowns, cavity nesting, and in particular urban dwelling, substantially reduces vulnerability. Our results can help inform species-specific decisions about when it may be safe to consider the release of birds on Guam depending on the relative vulnerability of each species to predation by BTS.
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22
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Tay NE, Fleming PA, Warburton NM, Moseby KE. Predator exposure enhances the escape behaviour of a small marsupial, the burrowing bettong. Anim Behav 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2021.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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23
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Bannister HL, Letnic M, Blumstein DT, Moseby KE. Individual traits influence survival of a reintroduced marsupial only at low predator densities. Anim Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- H. L. Bannister
- Centre for Ecosystem Science The University of New South Wales Sydney NSW Australia
- South Coast Natural Resource Management Inc. Albany WA Australia
| | - M. Letnic
- Centre for Ecosystem Science The University of New South Wales Sydney NSW Australia
| | - D. T. Blumstein
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology The University of California Los Angeles CA USA
| | - K. E. Moseby
- Centre for Ecosystem Science The University of New South Wales Sydney NSW Australia
- Arid Recovery SA Australia
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24
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Morris V, Pitcher BJ, Chariton A. A Cause for Alarm: Increasing Translocation Success of Captive Individuals Through Alarm Communication. FRONTIERS IN CONSERVATION SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fcosc.2021.626311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Translocation programmes implying the movement of animals from one place to another aim to sustain endangered populations in the wild. However, their success varies greatly, with predation being a major contributing factor. This is particularly prevalent in released captive-raised individuals which have a reduced or lost awareness of predators. Alarm calls are an immediate response made toward a predator, mostly studied in highly predated, social vertebrates. These warning vocalizations are a vital part of a prey species' anti-predator behavior, enhancing the individuals' and surrounding listeners' survival. To date, most translocation programmes have not considered this behavior for release success. Here we review the literature summarizing alarm communication systems of wild and captive vertebrates, aiming to establish recommendations and actions which could encourage alarm communication behavior in captive vertebrate species. Observations of wild animals show that alarm-call understanding is gained through the experience of predation pressure from a young age, amongst conspecific and heterospecific social groups, which captive individuals can lack. This information, combined with consideration of a programme's accessible resources and captive individual's developmental history, is pivotal to efficiently guide appropriate actions. Focusing on preserving behaviors in captivity, we provide a list of recommendations and actions to guide the reinforcement of alarm communication throughout the translocation process. Ensuring predator awareness and the maintenance of alarm communication in translocated individuals may greatly improve the likelihood of release success.
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25
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Edwards MC, Ford C, Hoy JM, FitzGibbon S, Murray PJ. How to train your wildlife: A review of predator avoidance training. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2020.105170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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26
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Bucklaew A, Dochtermann NA. The effects of exposure to predators on personality and plasticity. Ethology 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Amy Bucklaew
- Canisius College Buffalo NY USA
- Department of Neuroscience University of Rochester Rochester NY USA
| | - Ned A. Dochtermann
- Department of Biological Sciences North Dakota State University Fargo ND USA
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27
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Kingsford RT, West RS, Pedler RD, Keith DA, Moseby KE, Read JL, Letnic M, Leggett KEA, Ryall SR. Strategic adaptive management planning—Restoring a desert ecosystem by managing introduced species and native herbivores and reintroducing mammals. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Richard T. Kingsford
- Centre for Ecosystem Science School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney Kensington New South Wales Australia
| | - Rebecca S. West
- Centre for Ecosystem Science School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney Kensington New South Wales Australia
| | - Reece D. Pedler
- Centre for Ecosystem Science School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney Kensington New South Wales Australia
| | - David A. Keith
- Centre for Ecosystem Science School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney Kensington New South Wales Australia
- NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment Parramatta New South Wales Australia
| | - Katherine E. Moseby
- Centre for Ecosystem Science School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney Kensington New South Wales Australia
- Ecological Horizons Kimba South Australia Australia
| | - John L. Read
- Ecological Horizons Kimba South Australia Australia
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences University of Adelaide Adelaide South Australia Australia
| | - Mike Letnic
- Centre for Ecosystem Science School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney Kensington New South Wales Australia
| | - Keith E. A. Leggett
- Centre for Ecosystem Science School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney Kensington New South Wales Australia
| | - Sharon R. Ryall
- Centre for Ecosystem Science School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney Kensington New South Wales Australia
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28
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Gaynor KM, Cherry MJ, Gilbert SL, Kohl MT, Larson CL, Newsome TM, Prugh LR, Suraci JP, Young JK, Smith JA. An applied ecology of fear framework: linking theory to conservation practice. Anim Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlyn M. Gaynor
- National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara CA USA
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management University of California, Berkeley Berkeley CA USA
| | - Michael J. Cherry
- Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute Texas A&M University‐Kingsville Kingsville Texas USA
| | - Sophie L. Gilbert
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences University of Idaho Moscow Idaho USA
| | - Michel T. Kohl
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources University of Georgia Athens Georgia USA
| | | | - Thomas M. Newsome
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Laura R. Prugh
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences University of Washington Seattle WA USA
| | - Justin P. Suraci
- Center for Integrated Spatial Research Environmental Studies Department University of California Santa Cruz CA USA
| | - Julie K. Young
- Predator Research Facility USDA‐National Wildlife Research Center Millville Utah USA
| | - Justine A. Smith
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management University of California, Berkeley Berkeley CA USA
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology University of California, Davis Davis CA USA
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29
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Steindler LA, Blumstein DT, West R, Moseby KE, Letnic M. Exposure to a novel predator induces visual predator recognition by naïve prey. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-020-02884-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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30
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Moyses J, Hradsky B, Tuft K, Moseby K, Golding N, Wintle B. Factors influencing the residency of bettongs using one-way gates to exit a fenced reserve. AUSTRAL ECOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.12898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jessie Moyses
- School of Biosciences; University of Melbourne; Parkville Victoria 3010 Australia
- NESP Threatened Species Recovery Hub; University of Melbourne; Melbourne Victoria Australia
| | - Bronwyn Hradsky
- School of Biosciences; University of Melbourne; Parkville Victoria 3010 Australia
- NESP Threatened Species Recovery Hub; University of Melbourne; Melbourne Victoria Australia
| | | | - Katherine Moseby
- Arid Recovery; Roxby Downs South Australia Australia
- University of New South Wales; Sydney New South Wales Australia
| | - Nicholas Golding
- NESP Threatened Species Recovery Hub; University of Melbourne; Melbourne Victoria Australia
| | - Brendan Wintle
- School of Biosciences; University of Melbourne; Parkville Victoria 3010 Australia
- NESP Threatened Species Recovery Hub; University of Melbourne; Melbourne Victoria Australia
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31
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Jolly CJ, Webb JK, Gillespie GR, Phillips BL. Training fails to elicit behavioral change in a marsupial suffering evolutionary loss of antipredator behaviors. J Mammal 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyaa060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Attempts to reintroduce threatened species from ex situ populations (zoos or predator-free sanctuaries) regularly fail because of predation. When removed from their natural predators, animals may lose their ability to recognize predators and thus fail to adopt appropriate antipredator behaviors. Recently, northern quolls (Dasyurus hallucatus; Dasyuromorpha: Dasyuridae) conserved on a predator-free “island ark” for 13 generations were found to have no recognition of dingoes, a natural predator with which they had coevolved on mainland Australia for about 8,000 years. A subsequent reintroduction attempt using quolls acquired from this island ark failed due to predation by dingoes. In this study, we tested whether instrumental conditioning could be used to improve predator recognition in captive quolls sourced from a predator-free “island ark.” We used a previously successful scent-recognition assay (a giving-up density experiment) to compare predator-scent recognition of captive-born island animals before and after antipredator training. Our training was delivered by pairing live predators (dingo and domestic dog) with an electrified cage floor in repeat trials such that, when the predators were present, foraging animals would receive a shock. Our training methodology did not result in any discernible change in the ability of quolls to recognize and avoid dingo scent after training. We conclude either that our particular training method was ineffective (though ethically permissible); or that because these quolls appear unable to recognize natural predators, predator recognition may be extremely difficult to impart in a captive setting given ethical constraints. Our results point to the difficulty of reinstating lost behaviors, and to the value of maintaining antipredator behaviors in conservation populations before they are lost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris J Jolly
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Jonathan K Webb
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, NSW, Australia
| | - Graeme R Gillespie
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Flora and Fauna Division, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Northern Territory Government, Berrimah, NT, Australia
| | - Ben L Phillips
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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32
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Edwards MC, Hoy JM, FitzGibbon SI, Murray PJ. Relaxed predation theory: size, sex and brains matter. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020; 96:153-161. [PMID: 32441454 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 04/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Australia's wildlife is being considerably impacted by introduced mammalian predators such as cats (Felis catus), dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), and foxes (Vulpes vulpes). This is often attributed to native wildlife being naïve to these introduced predators. A systematic review of the literature reveals that native metatherians (body mass range 0.02-25 kg) do not recognise, and show relaxed antipredator behaviours towards, native and some introduced mammalian predators. Native eutherians (all with body mass < 2 kg), however, do appear to recognise and exhibit antipredator behaviours towards both native and introduced predators. Based on our findings, we propose a novel theory, the 'Relaxed Predation Theory'. Our new theory is based on the absence of large mammalian predators leading to reduced predation pressure in Australia during the past 40000-50000 years, and on three key differences between Australian metatherians and eutherians: size, sex, and brains. In light of this Relaxed Predation Theory, we make a number of recommendations for the conservation of Australian wildlife: (i) predator avoidance training of suitable species; (ii) exclusion fencing to exclude some, but not all, predators to facilitate the development of antipredator behaviours; (iii) captive breeding programs to prevent the extinction of some species; and (iv) reintroduction of Australia's larger predators, potentially to compete with and displace introduced predators. A more detailed understanding of the responses of Australian mammals to predators will hopefully contribute to the improved conservation of susceptible species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan C Edwards
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton Campus, 4343, Queensland, Australia.,Hidden Vale Wildlife Centre, The University of Queensland, 617 Grandchester Mount-Mort Road, Grandchester, 4340, Queensland, Australia
| | - Julia M Hoy
- Hidden Vale Wildlife Centre, The University of Queensland, 617 Grandchester Mount-Mort Road, Grandchester, 4340, Queensland, Australia
| | - Sean I FitzGibbon
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton Campus, 4343, Queensland, Australia
| | - Peter J Murray
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton Campus, 4343, Queensland, Australia
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33
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Hale R, Blumstein DT, Mac Nally R, Swearer SE. Harnessing knowledge of animal behavior to improve habitat restoration outcomes. Ecosphere 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Robin Hale
- School of BioSciences The University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria 3010 Australia
| | - Daniel T. Blumstein
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability University of California Los Angeles Los Angeles California USA
| | - Ralph Mac Nally
- School of BioSciences The University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria 3010 Australia
| | - Stephen E. Swearer
- School of BioSciences The University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria 3010 Australia
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34
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Mayer M, Fog Bjerre DH, Sunde P. Better safe than sorry: The response to a simulated predator and unfamiliar scent by the European hare. Ethology 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Martin Mayer
- Department of Bioscience Aarhus University Rønde Denmark
| | | | - Peter Sunde
- Department of Bioscience Aarhus University Rønde Denmark
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35
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I Am a Compassionate Conservation Welfare Scientist: Considering the Theoretical and Practical Differences Between Compassionate Conservation and Conservation Welfare. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10020257. [PMID: 32041150 PMCID: PMC7070475 DOI: 10.3390/ani10020257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Compassionate Conservation and Conservation Welfare are two disciplines whose practitioners advocate consideration of individual wild animals within conservation practice and policy. However, they are not, as is sometimes suggested, the same. Compassionate Conservation and Conservation Welfare are based on different underpinning ethics, which sometimes leads to conflicting views about the kinds of conservation activities and decisions that are acceptable. Key differences between the disciplines appear to relate to their views about which wild animals can experience harms, the kinds of harms they can experience and how we can know about and confidently evidence those harms. Conservation Welfare scientists seek to engage with conservation scientists with the aim of facilitating ongoing incremental improvements in all aspects of conservation, i.e., minimizing harms to animals. In contrast, it is currently unclear how the tenets of Compassionate Conservation can be used to guide decision-making in complex or novel situations. Thus, Conservation Welfare may offer modern conservationists a more palatable approach to integrating evidence-based consideration of individual sentient animals into conservation practice and policy.
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Miritis V, Rendall AR, Doherty TS, Coetsee AL, Ritchie EG. Living with the enemy: a threatened prey species coexisting with feral cats on a fox-free island. WILDLIFE RESEARCH 2020. [DOI: 10.1071/wr19202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
ContextFeral domestic cats (Felis catus) have contributed to substantial loss of Australian wildlife, particularly small- and medium-sized terrestrial mammals. However, mitigating cat impacts remains challenging. Understanding the factors that facilitate coexistence between native prey and their alien predators could aid better pest management and conservation actions.
AimsWe estimated feral cat density, examined the impact of habitat cover on long-nosed potoroos (Potorous tridactylus tridactylus), and assessed the spatial and temporal interactions between cats and potoroos in the ‘Bluegums’ area of French Island, south-eastern Australia.
Materials and methodsWe operated 31 camera stations across Bluegums for 99 consecutive nights in each of winter 2018 and summer 2018/19. We used a spatially explicit capture–recapture model to estimate cat density, and two-species single-season occupancy models to assess spatial co-occurrence of cats and potoroos. We assessed the influence of vegetation cover and cat activity on potoroo activity by using a dynamic occupancy model. We also used image timestamps to describe and compare the temporal activities of the two species.
Key resultsBluegums had a density of 0.77 cats per km2 across both seasons, although this is a conservative estimate because of the presence of unidentified cats. Cats and long-nosed potoroos were detected at 94% and 77% of camera stations, respectively. Long-nosed potoroo detectability was higher in denser vegetation and this pattern was stronger at sites with high cat activity. Cats and potoroos overlapped in their temporal activity, but their peak activity times differed.
Conclusions Feral cat density at Bluegums, French Island, is higher than has been reported for mainland Australian sites, but generally lower than in other islands. Long-nosed potoroos were positively associated with cats, potentially indicating cats tracking potoroos as prey or other prey species that co-occur with potoroos. Temporal activity of each species differed, and potoroos sought more complex habitat, highlighting possible mechanisms potoroos may use to reduce their predation risk when co-occurring with cats.
ImplicationsOur study highlighted how predator and prey spatial and temporal interactions, and habitat cover and complexity (ecological refuges), may influence the ability for native prey to coexist with invasive predators. We encourage more consideration and investigation of these factors, with the aim of facilitating more native species to persist with invasive predators or be reintroduced outside of predator-free sanctuaries, exclosures and island safe havens.
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LaBarge LR, Hill RA, Berman CM, Margulis SW, Allan ATL. Anthropogenic influences on primate antipredator behavior and implications for research and conservation. Am J Primatol 2020; 82:e23087. [PMID: 31894614 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Predation risk affects prey species' behavior, even in the absence of a direct threat, but human-induced environmental change may disturb ecologically significant predator-prey interactions. Here, we propose various ways in which knowledge of antipredator tactics, behavioral risk effects, and primate-predator interactions could assist in identifying human-caused disruption to natural systems. Using behavior to evaluate primate responses to the ongoing environmental change should be a potentially effective way to make species conservation more predictive by identifying issues before a more dramatic population declines. A key challenge here is that studies of predation on primates often use data collected via direct observations of habituated animals and human presence can deter carnivores and influence subjects' perception of risk. Hence, we also review various indirect data collection methods to evaluate their effectiveness in identifying where environmental change threatens wild species, while also minimizing observer bias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura R LaBarge
- Department of Environment and Sustainability, Program in Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Amherst, New York.,Primate and Predator Project, Lajuma Research Centre, Louis Trichardt, South Africa
| | - Russell A Hill
- Primate and Predator Project, Lajuma Research Centre, Louis Trichardt, South Africa.,Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Durham, UK.,Department of Zoology, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa
| | - Carol M Berman
- Department of Environment and Sustainability, Program in Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Amherst, New York.,Department of Anthropology, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Amherst, New York
| | - Susan W Margulis
- Department of Animal Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation, Canisius College, Buffalo, New York.,Department of Biology, Canisius College, Buffalo, New York
| | - Andrew T L Allan
- Primate and Predator Project, Lajuma Research Centre, Louis Trichardt, South Africa.,Department of Anthropology, Durham University, Durham, UK
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West RS, Tilley L, Moseby KE. A trial reintroduction of the western quoll to a fenced conservation reserve: implications of returning native predators. AUSTRALIAN MAMMALOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1071/am19041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
While fenced reserves provide sanctuary for many threatened prey species, few projects have reintroduced native threatened predators, despite their potential role in regulating prey, addressing prey naivety, trophic regulation, and predator conservation. We aimed to investigate a set of issues unique to predator reintroduction into fenced reserves: how to contain predators that are naturally wide roaming, how to estimate carrying capacity, and will native predators impact resident threatened species? We conducted a trial reintroduction of four western quolls (Dasyurus geoffroii) (two males, two females) into a fenced reserve where four threatened prey species had been reintroduced and feral cats and foxes excluded. We monitored quoll survival, diet, movement and reproduction. Nocturnal foraging ranges measured over a fortnight were 3–17km2, favouring burrows in dune habitat for shelter. Dietary analysis indicated a preference for reintroduced bettongs and western barred bandicoots, and resident hopping mice. Successful breeding was recorded but the two male quolls eventually escaped the reserve by climbing over the external fence and did not return. Results suggest that quoll reintroductions to fenced reserves will require fence designs that enable quolls to climb back into the reserve, threat management outside the reserve, and close monitoring of prey species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfgang Goymann
- Abteilung für Verhaltensneurobiologie Max‐Planck‐Institut für Ornithologie Seewiesen Germany
| | - Martin Küblbeck
- Abteilung für Verhaltensneurobiologie Max‐Planck‐Institut für Ornithologie Seewiesen Germany
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Blumstein DT, Letnic M, Moseby KE. In situ predator conditioning of naive prey prior to reintroduction. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2019; 374:20180058. [PMID: 31352887 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2018.0058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Many translocations and introductions to recover threatened populations fail because predators kill prey soon after release; a problem exacerbated for predator-naive prey. While pre-release training has been shown to work in some situations, it is time consuming and relies on using inferred predator cues and treating small groups. We review a relatively new and very promising management tool: in situ, pre-release predator conditioning. Here, the goal is to allow prey in large enclosures to live with low densities of predators to accelerate selection for antipredator traits (in an evolutionary sense) or provide prey essential experience with predators that they will later encounter. We review the published results of a large-scale, controlled experiment where we have permitted burrowing bettongs (Bettongia lesueur) and greater bilblies (Macrotis lagotis) to live with low densities of feral cats (Felis catus), a species implicated in their widespread decline and localized extinction. We found that both species could persist with cats, suggesting that future work should define coexistence thresholds-which will require knowledge of prey behaviour as well as the structure of the ecological community. Compared to control populations, predator-naive prey exposed to cats has a suite of morphological and behavioural responses that seemingly have increased their antipredator abilities. Results suggest that predator-conditioned bilbies survive better when released into a large enclosure with an established cat population; future work will determine whether this increased survival extends to the wild. This article is part of the theme issue 'Linking behaviour to dynamics of populations and communities: application of novel approaches in behavioural ecology to conservation'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel T Blumstein
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, 621 Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1606, USA
| | - Mike Letnic
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2035, Australia
| | - Katherine E Moseby
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2035, Australia.,Arid Recovery Ltd., PO Box 147, Roxby Downs, SA 5725, Australia
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Ross AK, Letnic M, Blumstein DT, Moseby KE. Reversing the effects of evolutionary prey naiveté through controlled predator exposure. J Appl Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra K. Ross
- Centre for Ecosystem Science School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Mike Letnic
- Centre for Ecosystem Science School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Daniel T. Blumstein
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Los Angeles California
| | - Katherine E. Moseby
- Centre for Ecosystem Science School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney NSW Australia
- Arid Recovery Ltd. Roxby Downs SA Australia
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Beston SM, Walsh MR. Natural selection favours a larger eye in response to increased competition in natural populations of a vertebrate. Funct Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Shannon M. Beston
- Department of Biology University of Texas at Arlington Arlington Texas
| | - Matthew R. Walsh
- Department of Biology University of Texas at Arlington Arlington Texas
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Cunningham CX, Johnson CN, Jones ME. Harnessing the power of ecological interactions to reduce the impacts of feral cats. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/14888386.2019.1585289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Christopher N. Johnson
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Menna E. Jones
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
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Increasing conservation translocation success by building social functionality in released populations. Glob Ecol Conserv 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2019.e00604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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Ehlman SM, Trimmer PC, Sih A. Prey Responses to Exotic Predators: Effects of Old Risks and New Cues. Am Nat 2019; 193:575-587. [PMID: 30912973 DOI: 10.1086/702252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Exotic predators can have major negative impacts on prey. Importantly, prey vary considerably in their behavioral responses to exotic predators. Factors proposed to explain variation in prey response to exotic predators include the similarity of new predators to familiar, native predators, the prevalence and diversity of predators in a prey's past, and variation in a prey's innate ability to discriminate between predators and safety. While these factors have been put forth verbally in the literature, no theory exists that combines these hypotheses in a common conceptual framework using a unified behavioral model. Here, we formalize existing verbal arguments by modeling variation in prey responses to new predators in a state-dependent detection theory framework. We find that while some conventional wisdom is upheld, novel predictions emerge. As expected, prey respond poorly to exotic predators that do not closely resemble familiar predators. Furthermore, a history with more abundant or diverse native predators can lessen effects of some exotic predators on prey; however, under some conditions, the opposite prediction emerges. Also, prey that evolved in situations where they easily discriminate between safe and dangerous situations can be more susceptible to novel predators.
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Yan X, Zhang H, Li D, Wu D, Zhou S, Sun M, Hu H, Liu X, Mou S, He S, Owen MA, Huang Y. Acoustic recordings provide detailed information regarding the behavior of cryptic wildlife to support conservation translocations. Sci Rep 2019; 9:5172. [PMID: 30914700 PMCID: PMC6435668 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-41455-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
For translocated animals, behavioral competence may be key to post-release survival. However, monitoring behavior is typically limited to tracking movements or inferring behavior at a gross scale via collar-mounted sensors. Animal-bourne acoustic monitoring may provide a unique opportunity to monitor behavior at a finer scale. The giant panda is an elusive species of Ursid that is vulnerable to extinction. Translocation is an important aspect of the species' recovery, and survival and recruitment for pandas likely hinge on behavioral competence. Here we tested the efficacy of a collar-mounted acoustic recording unit (ARU) to remotely monitor the behavior of panda mothers and their dependent young. We found that trained human listeners could reliably identify 10 behaviors from acoustic recordings. Through visual inspection of spectrograms we further identified 5 behavioral categories that may be detectable by automated pattern recognition, an approach that is essential for the practical application of ARU. These results suggest that ARU are a viable method for remotely observing behaviors, including feeding. With targeted effort directed towards instrumentation and computing advances, ARU could be used to document how behavioral competence supports or challenges post-release survival and recruitment, and allow for research findings to be adaptively integrated into future translocation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Yan
- China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda, Wolong, Sichuan, 623006, China
- Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Science and Ecological Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Hemin Zhang
- China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda, Wolong, Sichuan, 623006, China
| | - Desheng Li
- China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda, Wolong, Sichuan, 623006, China
| | - Daifu Wu
- China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda, Wolong, Sichuan, 623006, China.
| | - Shiqiang Zhou
- China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda, Wolong, Sichuan, 623006, China
| | - Mengmeng Sun
- China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda, Wolong, Sichuan, 623006, China
| | - Haiping Hu
- China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda, Wolong, Sichuan, 623006, China
| | - Xiaoqiang Liu
- China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda, Wolong, Sichuan, 623006, China
| | - Shijie Mou
- China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda, Wolong, Sichuan, 623006, China
| | - Shengshan He
- China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda, Wolong, Sichuan, 623006, China
| | - Megan A Owen
- Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global, California, United States.
| | - Yan Huang
- China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda, Wolong, Sichuan, 623006, China.
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Muralidhar A, Moore FL, Easton LJ, Jamieson IG, Seddon PJ, van Heezik Y. Know your enemy? Conservation management causes loss of antipredator behaviour to novel predators in New Zealand robins. Anim Behav 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2019.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Zamora-Camacho FJ, García-Astilleros J, Aragón P. Does predation risk outweigh the costs of lost feeding opportunities or does it generate a behavioural trade-off? A case study with Iberian ribbed newt larvae. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/bly155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Pedro Aragón
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (MNCN-CSIC), C/José Gutiérrez Abascal, Madrid, Spain
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Saxon-Mills EC, Moseby K, Blumstein DT, Letnic M. Prey naïveté and the anti-predator responses of a vulnerable marsupial prey to known and novel predators. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-018-2568-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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50
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Rendall AR, Coetsee AL, Sutherland DR. Predicting suitable release sites for assisted colonisations: a case study of eastern barred bandicoots. ENDANGER SPECIES RES 2018. [DOI: 10.3354/esr00893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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